Hawaii: Patrick Lange wins Ironman

Patrick Lange has defended his title at the Ironman on Hawaii in record time. The 32-year-old triathlete from Hesse used the ideal conditions and was the first athlete to complete the course in less than eight hours. "It's just madness, I never would have thought that," Lange said at the finish, where he had kept the last bit of power for something very special. He proposed to his girlfriend on his knees.

In 7:52:39 hours, Lange set a fabulous record over the 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running, setting his course record of the previous year's victory (8:01:40) at nine Minutes undercut. Second behind Lange, more than four minutes behind, was Bart Aernouts of Belgium, ahead of David McNamee of the United Kingdom (+8.31 minutes) in a race that made the successful defending champion more and more of his grand entrance after a rather moderate swim. "I did not have the best swimming, as I've seen, but it went incredibly well afterwards," said Lange.
More than two minutes after the Australian Josh Amberger and also the third placed Maurice Clavel, Lange came into the transition zone after the first discipline. On the bike Lange drove a good race and kept all chances. Finally, the competition turned Lange into running: on the first 8.5 kilometers he made nine places, after 16 kilometers he overtook also litter and took over the lead in the race for the first time in the race. Litter, once a rowing rider at the Olympics and also a former professional cyclist, clapped the German respectfully. 26 kilometers later the renewed triumph was perfect. After Sebastian Kienle in 2014 and Jan Frodeno in 2015 and 2016, who was only an expert and spectator in Hawaii because of an injury, Lange provided the fifth German victory on Hawaii in succession.
Anne Haug wins bronze The German women were also successful: Anne Haug came in third place at her Ironman World Cup premiere in Hawaii. The 35-year-old Bayreuth native had to be beaten only by Swiss serial winner Daniela Ryf and Briton Lucy Charles.
Haug, who switched to the longer triathlon distances last year after two Olympics appearances, finished on Saturday after 8:41:58 in Kailua-Kona. She provided the first medal of a German starter since Sandra Wallenhorst ten years ago.
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